Archive
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Southend: Tory anger at Kursaal casino
All 19 Tory Southend councillors have voted against plans to open to a casino at the Kursaal. The Conservative group on the council has voted en bloc against the proposed casino - despite officers' advice that the plan was likely to go ahead in the end
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Shoebury: Homes saved from blaze
Firefighters from across Essex tackled a corn field blaze which threatened to destroy nearby homes. Police had to close off Star Lane and Poynters Lane in Shoebury as thick smoke pouring from the fire made driving conditions impossible. Around 12 appliances
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Heybridge now has its own top pop studio
Maldon-based Zen Studios is the creation of 28-year-old Lee Potter. Lee set up the studios in Heybridge last September as part of the governments Youth Enterprise Scheme and has not looked back. He has had great success nationwide including work for the
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Billericay: Girl shocked by assault
A 14-year-old was left in a state of shock when a man grabbed her and exposed himself as she walked home in Billericay. But police yesterday said there was no obvious link to two similar incidents in the town on Tuesday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 20.
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White Notley: Skip for hearts
All the pupils at White Notley Primary School took part in a sponsored skip recently to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. About 115 children took part in Jump Rope, which was organised by the charity, along with parents and teachers. Marion
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Canvey: Boss's cash for cemetery
A Canvey businessman has sent a £20,000 cheque to Castle Point Council to avoid any misunderstanding over the island's cemetery. Terry Holding, chairman of Holding and Barnes Group at Charfleets industrial estate, made the offer after Safeway agreed to
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Pitsea: Dancers mourn for pal Jake
A dance community is in mourning for the death of a music-loving teenager killed in a canoeing accident. Members of the Pitsea-based Choo Choo Club were devastated to hear the sad news about 17-year-old Jacob Elliott, known to his friends as Jake. The
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Chelmsford: Man held over death of woman aged 77
A man was arrested yesterday after a pensioner was found dead in her home. An ambulance crew found the 77-year-old woman of Archers Way, Chelmsford, at about 6am. Police officers confirmed they were treating the death as suspicious. A spokesman said yesterday
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Tillingham Show a tremendous success
Organisers of the Tillingham Flower Show hailed the event a tremendous success on Saturday. A procession kicked off the afternoon with the WI winning the Tillingham Challenge Trophy for best entry. At West Field there were the usual two produce and handicrafts
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Castle Point: Leisure centre's £1 million repair bill
Castle Point Council today revealed it is to splash out £1 million over the next five years to bring Canvey's leisure centre up to scratch. An in-depth survey has revealed that Waterside Farm in Somnes Avenue needs a major overhaul with electrical work
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Rochford: Final farewell to Mr Personality
Hundreds of mourners gathered to say a final farewell to "Mr Personality" - jazz trumpeter Vic Wood. Family, friends and familiar faces from the jazz world entered Southend Crematorium yesterday accompanied by a jazz band made up of friends of the well-loved
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Colchester killing: 'Don't be afraid' police urge witnesses
Murder squad detectives today urged Colchester people not to be afraid to help if they have clues which could solve the violent death of a Chinese man in the town. And they called on minicab drivers to come forward if they witnessed events leading up
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Southend, Leigh: £1.8 million will sting
Residents at a blind home were today celebrating after learning they stand to benefit from a Leigh spinster's £1.8 million will - as those who tried to get their hands on the cash face jail. Annie Kay, touched by the charity, left nearly half her fortune
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Golf: Fiona is a three-time champion
The Warren Golf Club's Ladies Championship was played on Wednesday over 36 holes and was won for the third time by Fiona Smith (handicap 5) with an excellent gross 160 for the two rounds. The runner-up was Margaret Collier (handicap 15) with 181 gross
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Cricket: Dean's here to stay
Dean Feneysey had no idea he would be playing East Anglian Premier League cricket for Halstead when he arrived in England five games ago. But the South African quickie is here to stay for the rest of the season and was spearheading the bowling attack
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Soccer: Colchester aiming for second trophy
Colchester boss Mick Wadsworth will take his triumphant squad to Harwich and Parkeston today looking to pick up a second trophy in three days. The U's play the Shrimpers in the final of the Harwich Charity Shield at the club's Royal Oak ground having
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Soccer: Tiptree attain major sponsorship
Tiptree United Football Club have made changes in sponsorship for the forthcoming season. Last season's major first team sponsors of the Jewson League side, Milan Europe Teamwear, have pledged their continued support to the club through the supply of
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Braintree: Call for public meetings on Monken Hadley future
Braintree Trades Union Council members are seeking an assurance that questions surrounding the possible closure of Monken Hadley old people's home, Bocking, will be given a public forum. In a letter to Braintree MP Alan Hurst, Essex Social Services director
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Braintree Council: Cabinet-style
The newly-elected Braintree District Council, meeting for the first time in full council on Monday, has issued a statement of its priorities for the coming year. The six-point plan will, for the first time, be seen through by lead members - each with
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Maldon: Computer company to close
A computer company has ceased trading with the loss of 34 jobs just months after being named one of Britain's fastest-growing firms. Fox Computer Systems, which recently moved to the Maldon's Victorian railway building in Station Road, has been forced
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Clacton: Heroin addict stole from grandma
A heroin addict stole money from his grandmother. Adam Tibbenham took a total of £465 from his Clacton gran, magistrates were told. Colchester Court heard Isabelle Tibbenham kept a large amount of money in rolls of banks notes in plastic bags in a drawer
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Basildon: Lara checks out Tesco Extra
Kicking and stomping her way into Basildon, computer star Lara Croft welcomed shoppers to Tesco Extra Pitsea. The computer character, played by a former swimwear and lingerie model Lara Weller, posed for pictures with delighted children and cheered up
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Bowls: Ex-champ ladies go through
A brace of previous singles champions made it safely through to the last 16 of the competition at the 54th Southend Ladies Open Bowls Tournament yesterday. Current holder Peggy Taylor of Prittlewell BC maintained her bid to retain the coveted singles
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Soccer: Seasiders hit by knee injury to 'keeper
New-look Clacton Town came within ten seconds of claiming the scalp of Ryman League Romford, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. The south Essex outfit netted an injury-time equaliser through Whinney to deny the Seasiders who had led thanks to a fine Glen
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Cricket round-up: Three runs cost Southend a win
OLD BRENTWOODS 207-6 dec SOUTHEND 204-8 (DRAW) Fourth-placed Southend missed out on victory by three runs in this closely-fought Third Division game. Old Brentwood won the toss and elected to bat on a very warm afternoon. They made 207-6 from 52 overs
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Road Running: Bailey rises to the challenge
The 'Tour' of Great Baddow started on Sunday and Tiptree Road Runners' Mal-colm Bailey rose to the challenge of four races in consecutive days in races which incorporated some testing climbs on hilly courses. His times were: Sunday (10.7k Road Race) 0
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Cricket: Philpotts 100 sees off Ipswich
IPSWICH & EAST SUFFOLK II............183-8 MALDON II................................................184-6 (Maldon won by four wickets) Maldon's opening bowlers, G. Sims, 13, and Mike Newman kept the Ipswich batsmen under control inn the early stages
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Cricket: Cook leads Braintree to a fine win
BRAINTREE .....................................229-5 EIGHT ASH GREEN ..............156 all out (Jaygate Homes Two Counties Division Two) (Braintree won by 73 runs) A superb all round performance by Andy Cook on Saturday ensured Braintree a comfortable
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Cricket round-up: Rayleigh ease relegation fears
RAYLEIGH FAIRVIEW 219-8 OLDCHURCH 169 all out (RAYLEIGH WON) A fine win littered with splendid individual displays enabled Rayleigh to leapfrog Oldchurch and move out of the Mid-Essex League Division Four relegation zone. Veteran opener Dave Webster (
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Great Leighs: Look out for scorpions!
Police are warning the public to be on the lookout after a scorpion was found in nectarines bought at an Essex car boot sale. The creature, described as potentially deadly, was discovered in fruit bought at the sale in Great Leighs, near Braintree, on
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Great Bentley: Farm blaze blamed on children
A blaze which threatened to destroy farm crops and hedgerows is believed to have been started by children. Firefighters from Clacton and Weeley spent four hours at the fire at Carpenters Farm, Great Bentley. Farm partner Peter Morton said yesterday the
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Cressing: Boy, 9, dies after car smash
A boy aged nine has died in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, after a car crash on a country road. Philip Tilbury, of The Street, Cressing, suffered head injuries when his father's car was involved in a collision with a Rover car in Boars Tye Road
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Witham: Pub flushed with success
A pub in Witham was flushed with success when it won the runners-up prize in a toilets facilities competition. The Victoria, in Powers Hall End, was one of two pubs to receive nine gallons of IPA as second prize. The aim of the competition, organised
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Maldon: Teenagers can Have-A-Go
From drama to motorised skateboarding there's something for youngsters during Maldon and Burnham's Have-A-Go-Week. Sessions for young people aged 11 to 16 have been organised by Maldon District Council and the Maldon Locality Youth Service and will run
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Maldon: Carnival to create party spirit
Party-time starts in Maldon this weekend, when the carnival at Promenade Park kicks off on Sunday, promising to be a week of spectacular entertainment and fun-filled activities for all the family. President of the carnival, the Mayor of Maldon, Paul Rew
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Heybridge: Bid for town status on cards
Residents in Heybridge are to be consulted on whether the parish council should change to a town. A meeting to gain villagers views on the issue will be held in October members of the parish council decided last Thursday. "The parish council will be using
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Clacton: Youths cause train chaos
Children were today blamed for a blaze which brought trains to a standstill on the main line from London to Clacton. Three fire crews from Clacton and Weeley tackled the fire on a railway embankment near the Burrs Road crossing at Great Clacton. The blaze
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Chelmsford: 350 jobs lost at Lloyds TSB
Hundreds of workers face redundancy after banking giant Lloyds TSB announced it is to close its stocks and securities business. 350 staff at its securities services offices in Chelmsford are set to join the dole queue. More than 400 workers in central
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Westcliff: Former cancer victim traded antiques for cannabis
A former cancer victim traded antiques for pain-relieving supplies of cannabis, Southend Crown Court was told. William Austin, 55, of Cotswold Road, Westcliff, was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £76 costs after admitting possessing
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Benfleet: Lemon-scented future for John
The lemon trees of sunny Spain beckon for a retiring Benfleet head teacher. John Thorpe, head of Kents Hill junior school, has bidden farewell to the pupils and staff, as the summer holidays start and he looks forward to a well-earned rest in Spain. Mr
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Southend: Classical boost for hospital
The strains of classical strings echoed over the Thames estuary at a charity concert in Southend's pier pavilion. The black tie concert was held to raise money for a new leukaemia ward at Southend Hospital and was attended by councillors and other dignitaries
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Champagne flows as Basildon bar celebrates anniversary
The champagne flowed as Bonds Bar celebrated its first anniversary in style. VIP guests were invited to the bar on the Festival Leisure Park in Basildon as part of a thank-you event for those who have helped the first year go so well. Site secretary Claire
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Canvey: Serena's new cash hope
A Canvey girl needs just £300 more to help her to communicate. This is the shortfall left from a fundraising effort to help buy a talking machine for Serena Lester, nine, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Serena uses a similar machine at Lancaster School
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Will fraud: Widow says 'I'm not a bad person'...
To call Annette Russill's past chequered is an understatement. The 65-year-old white haired widow from Rochford shocked Basildon Crown Court when she confessed she was illiterate. She defensively told the jury: "Don't think I'm a criminal. It is not my
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Will fraud: Spinster led a simple life
Annie Kay was a private, placid woman who lived a quiet simple life. Born in Lancashire, her family moved to various seaside towns before settling in Westcliff in the 1950s. The daughter of Fred, a dentist, she inherited his surprising wealth, accumulated
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Rayleigh, Southend: Hero halts train attack gang
A man attacked by drunken thugs on a Southend-bound train is convinced a have-a-go-hero saved his life. Barney Rowland paid tribute to Paul Phillips, the man who bravely leapt to his defence, and now both are campaigning for more guards on evening trains
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Motorcycling: National glory for Len
Copford grandad Len Hunt is a new National Classic Motorcycle racing champion. The 60-year-old ace is so far ahead in his field - the Boyer Bransden 501cc to unlimited period class - that he cannot be caught with two rounds still to go. Hunt clinched
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Grant help for Tendring firms
Cash grants to help create extra jobs and expand firms could be flooding into Tendring as part of a major boost for the new millennium, it has been revealed. The Government has taken assisted-area status away from Clacton and Harwich. The towns were granted
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Maldon: Meet Maureen, our new minister
Rev Maureen Robbins has scooted into Maldon town to take over as minister at the Baptist Church in Butt Lane. Rev Robbins has been a minister for 27 years and has worked mainly in the West Country. Her last post was at Radstock for nine years. She said
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Benfleet: I'm a grandma - twice in a day!
Overjoyed Kathleen and Victor Hammerton have told of their delight after becoming grandparents - twice in one day. The pair were celebrating the birth of their first grandchild when a second one made a surprise appearance. The proud couple had gone to
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Southend: Last lap in cruiser ban
Moves to stop cruising on Southend seafront should be in place before next summer. Councillors were today due to urge changes on Western Esplanade to prevent the highly dangerous antics of boys racers who gather late at night. The move is in response
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Colchester: Triad link to violent death?
Murder squad detectives have refused to rule out a link between the brutal death of a Chinese man in Colchester and Triad gang warfare. Officers said they were looking at all possibilities as they probed the violent death of Hok Wan Leung, 34, an unemployed
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Blair's focus on Basildon school
A top Basildon teacher hand-picked by Tony Blair to record a snapshot of today's education system admitted she was glowing with pride at the honour. As part of the annual report at what the Government has achieved, the Prime Minister sent out disposable
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Will fraud: Lawyers who smelled a rat
Had it not been for three men with a wealth of legal experience, Annette and David Spillman could now have almost £2 million in their bank accounts. Annie Kay's original solicitor, Peter Boardman, was suspicious when told she had made a new will with
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Chelmsford: Man released as murder probe continues
A man arrested after the murder of pensioner Violet Dunderdale was today released and placed under the care of the Mental Health Act. Police picked up the man soon after the battered body of the much-loved 77-year-old woman was found in her Chelmsford
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Showjumping: A superb show in prospect
With over £17,000 of prize money on offer, the Essex County Showground Equestrian Club's grand prix meeting on July 30 to August 1 is one not to miss. Four well-watered rings, course building by top designers, magnificent sets of show jumps and 43 exciting
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Ice Hockey: Cotton back with the Chieftains
Chelmsford Chieftains have re-signed forward Jon Cotton for the coming season. Cotton has previously played for Bracknell Bees, Blackburn Hawks, Peterborough Pirates and Invicta Dynamos, where he scored a massive 93 points from 20 games in the 1997/98
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Angling: Priory Park fishermen's last warning
Leisure chiefs at Southend Council have been urged to think carefully before banning anglers from Priory Park. Last month councillors put anglers using the park's lake on probation, following threatening behaviour to park attendants. Some anglers had
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Athletics: Sarah has to sit and hope
Essex athlete Sarah Claxton will find out today whether she has done enough to make Britain's World Championship team. The Colchester-based competitor finished an agonising third in her favoured long jump event at the AAA Championships - just outside
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Soccer: Injury worries for Ipswich
Ipswich Town have been hit by a plague of injuries just a fortnight before the start of the new Division One campaign. Jim Magilton, Matt Holland, Adam Tanner, Mark Venus and Marco Holster are all causing worries ahead of tonight's friendly at Peterborough
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Ice Hockey: Cotton back with the Chieftains
Chelmsford Chieftains have re-signed forward Jon Cotton for the coming season. Cotton has previously played for Bracknell Bees, Blackburn Hawks, Peterborough Pirates and Invicta Dynamos, where he scored a massive 93 points from 20 games in the 1997/98
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Burnham: Pupils write and produce own play
Pupils at a school in Burnham celebrated the end of their SATs exams, by all working together on a play. The 60 children, who are in year six at Burnham County Primary School, performed "The Witches" by Roald Dahl on Monday and Tuesday last week for parents
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Tollesbury: Rare birds find des res
A flock of rare birds have found their ideal des res. Thirty-four pairs of avocets have decided Old Hall Marsh Nature Reserve, near Tollesbury, is the perfect nesting place. And they have managed to produce around 40 chicks in the reserve. The fine-feathered
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Mersea: Islanders cut off
Mersea Island was cut off for more than an hour after a crane blocked the only access road. Traffic trying to use the Strood was brought to a standstill last night after the crane sank into soft ground at the side of the causeway. It had pulled over to
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Bowls: Eastwood in a Rush to seal Beharrel triumph
Eastwood bowlers got back to winning ways in the Beharrel Shield with a narrow two-shot win over Shoebury. W Rushton got Eastwood off to a fine start with a 21-19 win over M Ager. However, F Lampton put Shoebury on level terms with a 30-18 victory over
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Soccer: Little ups hunt for midfield ace
Alan Little has prioritised the signing of a midfield dynamo to bolster his Southend United side for the fast-approaching Third Division campaign. With the new season kicking-off against Plymouth Argyle at Roots Hall on August 7, the Blues boss is desperate
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Cricket: Essex set to slash squad
Essex County Cricket manager Peter Edwards warned today dozens of First Class cricketers could be thrown on to the scrapheap at the end of the season. And as county cricket clubs across the country face up to a looming financial crisis, Edwards confirmed
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Cricket: Victory trio for Hockley
Hockley's Greensward School won three of the four age groups when the Castle Point and Rochford Schools' cricket finals were staged. In the under-13 final they beat King Edmund, Rochford, by a single run off the last ball when chasing 86 in a tight match
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Cricket: Thrill of a lifetime for Colchester all-rounder as Test substitute
Essex cricketer Graham Napier described as "the thrill of a lifetime" his shock call to Lord's to play for England against New Zealand in the ill-fated second Test match. The promising Colchester and East Essex all-rounder was called into the match on
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Soccer: Powling continues to experiment
Once again, Braintree Town manager Richie Powling fielded an experimental squad for the third of Braintree's pre-season friendlies when they entertained Billericay at Cressing Road on Saturday. Upwards of a dozen newcomers have now been given a run out
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Cricket: Raynes promotion hopes dealt major blow
Hullbridge.............224-5 Rayne..................212 all out (Hullbridge won by 12 runs) (T. Rippon League Division Four) Rayne's promotion hopes were dealt a huge blow on Saturday as old rivals Hullbridge inflicted a defeat which puts them clear of
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Athletics: Sarah shines at Bracknell
Saturday saw Braintree Athletics Club's women's team at Bracknell, competing against Reading, who were top of the league, Bracknell, who occupied sixth place, Stevenage (eighth) and Oxford, who were just below halfway in the table. Before the match, Braintree
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Athletics: Fans enjoy sporting feast
Attention on Sunday centred on Basildon AC high jumper Darryl Stone as the pupil from Thundersley's King John School attempted to repeat the 2.03m leap which won him the intermediate boys English Schools' individual title at Bury St Edmunds a fortnight
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Pitsea: Lost teenagers spark 999 fiasco
Three teenagers who sparked a full-scale emergency operation were today criticised for wasting resources. One of the boys, in his late teens, made the 999 call from a mobile phone on Sunday evening and put the emergency services on alert. A police car
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Rochford: Schools scheme gets poor marks
A plan outlining the future of education in Rochford is ill thought out and doesn't take into account essential factors, councillors have claimed. The Draft Essex School Organisational Plan was drawn up by Essex County Council Local Education Authority
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Cressing, Maylandsea: Young musicians learn from experts
Young musicians from Maylandsea County Primary School have been taking part in a music project with the English Sinfonia orchestra. Organised as part of the Cressing Temple Music Festival's education programme, the project included workshops by a professional
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Wickford: Vandals' history lesson
Youngsters are to be taught about the soldiers who fought and died for their country as part of a tough new vandalism crackdown. Police hope children will show more respect for Wickford memorial park if they realise the men honoured there died close to
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Colchester killing: Were gang heading to illegal card game den?
Colchester - a normally genteel borough famed for its history and proud of its low crime rate - has become the scene of an alleged Triad-gang killing. It is believed the London-based gangs had travelled to the town to visit an illegal gambling den. An
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Colchester killing: Victim's passion was for gambling
Neighbours of a Chinese man murdered in Colchester today described him as a mysterious character and heavy gambler. Staff at a betting shop near where Hok Wan Leung, 34, lived said he was a frequent visitor. Mr Leung, an unemployed chef, was battered
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Will fraud: Police had to dig up bodies at night...
The exhumation of Annie Kay and her companion Patrick Wedd's bodies from Southend cemetery was a first for Essex Police. The decision to re-examine the buried bodies came as officers investigating the possible £1.8 million fraud started to suspect that
